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Bioactive lipids regulate Trypanosoma cruzi development.

Alessandra Catarina Chagas-Lima1,2,3, Miria Gomes Pereira1,4, Patrícia Fampa2,5

  • 1Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21940-590, Brazil.

Parasitology Research
|July 4, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), found in insect blood meals, promote Trypanosoma cruzi proliferation. LPC also influences parasite differentiation, suggesting ingested lipids control Chagas disease transmission.

Keywords:
Lysophosphatidic acidLysophosphatidylcholineRhodnius prolixusTrypanosoma cruzi

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Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, with complex life cycle stages.
  • Lysophospholipids like lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) are present in insect vectors and human plasma.
  • LPC is found in Rhodnius prolixus saliva/feces and modulates T. cruzi infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ingested lysophospholipids (LPC and LPA) in T. cruzi proliferation and differentiation.
  • To understand how these lipids affect parasite development within the insect vector.
  • To determine the localization of LPA and LPC within T. cruzi.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing the impact of various LPC and LPA fatty acyl chain lengths on parasite growth in vitro.
  • Evaluating the time- and space-dependent effects of LPC and LPA on parasite proliferation and metacyclogenesis in the vector gut.
  • Microscopic analysis to determine the distribution of LPA and LPC within T. cruzi parasites.

Main Results:

  • Both LPC and LPA significantly increased T. cruzi proliferation, with varying effects based on fatty acyl chain length.
  • LPC, but not LPA, was found to influence parasite metacyclogenesis (differentiation into infective forms).
  • LPA and LPC were localized within the reservosomes of T. cruzi parasites.

Conclusions:

  • Ingested bioactive lipids, specifically LPC and LPA, play a crucial role in regulating T. cruzi proliferation and differentiation.
  • LPC influences metacyclogenesis, impacting the parasite's ability to infect humans.
  • This study highlights the significance of host-derived lipids in controlling parasite transmission dynamics.